Bullet puller



c. R. JAcoBsEN March 3, 1964 BULLET FULLER Filed Dec. 27, 1962 NTOR.CALVIN R. JACOBSEN United States Patent @hice 3,123,369 Patented Mar. 3,1964 3,123,369 BULLET FULLER Calvin R. Jacobsen, Murray, Utah (R0. Box1552.3, Salt Lake City, Utah) Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,665Claims. (Cl. 279 35) This invention relates to devices for separatingthe bullets of rifle cartridges from the powder-containing shells inwhich they are secured.

It has become common practice for sportsmen to purchase governmentsurplus ritie cartridges and to reload them for use in hunting game,such as deer and elk.

To separate the bullet from the powder-containing shell of thecartridge, it is customary to employ a so-calied loading press to whicha bullet puller is attached. The puller serves to securely grip thebullet and hold it in the press while a lever-operated, movable jaw ofthe press pulls the cartridge away from the bullet.

For the reloading operation to be successful, it is imperative that thebullet puller not damage the bullet. Also, it is desirable that itaccept the bullets from cartridges of the several different calibersfound in Army and other government surplus ammunition.

In the making of the present invention, it was a principal object toprovide a bullet puller conforming to these requirements and yetcomprising a minimum number of parts which are economical tomanufacture, easy to assemble and disassemble, and inexpensive toreplace when worn, the puller being capable of handling a continuous runof cartridges of various sizes quickly and expeditiously.

These desired characteristics are achieved by a constructionincorporating a plurality of mutually independent, bullet-gripping jawsin a body defining a through passage for the bullets. The throughpassage is a cylindrical bore having a rectilinear axis and an entrywayat one end for receiving the bullet-carrying ends of a succession ofriiie cartridges, one after another. The jaws are liat and areconigurated and arranged, mutually, to seat and to freely tipindividually, against yieldable return force, on an internal annularshoulder provided by the cylindrical bore of the puller bodyintermediate its length, and are further congurated and arranged todefine, in common, a ratchetlike through passage for the succession ofbullets. Such passage is initially less in diameter than the diametersof the bullets, but is expandable by reason of the tipping action of thejaws.

When each bullet, in turn, is well within such ratchetlike throughpassage, with the individual jaws of the puller tipped in the directionof bullet travel to expand such through passage against the yieldablereturn force, the closed, bottom end of the shell is grasped bymechanism commonly associated with a loading press and forming no partof the present invention and is pulled in a direction directly oppositeto the direction of travel of the bullet through the puller when thelever of the loading press is operated This causes the ratchet-likethroughpassage-defining edges of the jaws to gently but ever more"firmly grip the bullet and hold it while the shell is pulled away andseparated from it.

It is preferred that the bullet puller comprise a unitary body having acylindrical base and a cylindrical upper housing. In this specilic formof the device, the base is exteriorly threaded for attachment to theloading press and the bore of the upper housing is larger than that ofthe base. A shoulder is formedV between and normal to the two bores andextends slightly into the bore of the base. The plurality of fiat jawsfor gripping a bullet and a return spring for biasing the jaws intoengagement with the bullet and for returning the jaws to their initialpositions are held in position in the upper housing by a retainer plug,removably locked in the housing. f

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the presently preferred specificembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a view showing one form of the bullet puller in sideelevation;

FIG. 2, a Vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a top plan view;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary View in Vertical section taken on the line 4 4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5, a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6, a vertical sectional view of a somewhat different embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 7, a horizontal section taken on the line 7 7 0f FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiments the bullet puller has a unitarybody, shown generally at 10, which consists of a lower cylindrical base11, threaded exteriorly for attachment to a loading press (not shown),and an upper cylindrical housing 12 having a bore 13 larger than thebore 14 of the base. Formed between the two bores and extending slightlyinto bore 14, in a plane normal to their common axis, is a preferablyiiat, annular shoulder 15, the bottom inner edge of which is preferablybeveled, as at 16, to provide a guide means for bullets entering thebody through the bore 14 of base 11. The two bores 13 and 14 form acontinuous through passage having a reotilinear axis.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 2-5, a pair of iiat jaws 17are contigurated and arranged to denne a ratchet-like through passage17-1 and are biased to bulletengaging position by spring 1S. The jawsand the spring are held in position in the upper housing member by aretainer plug 19, having a groove 20 formed circumferentially thereof.Set screw 21 is screwed through the upper housing and engages the groove20 to hold the retainer plug in the housing.

The jaws 17 are liat and rigid, individual pieces, preferably of steel,having mutually parallel sides 22, a curved rear edge 23, and an arcuatebullet-engaging front edge beveled on the underside, as shown at 24.Although the rear edges 23 are shown curved, with a radius less thanthat of the bore 13, it will be apparent that the edges can be ofvarious configurations that will allow the jaw to pivot about a rearextremity when it is in contact with the curved wall of the bore.

The jaws are biased by spring 18 to a position wherein their flatundersides rest on shoulder 15. In this position, the foremost corners25 of the arcuate front edges of the two jaws are in Contact, and therear extremities of the curved rear edges abut the wall of the bore.

laws 17 and spring 13 are held in position by retainer plug 19, which islixed in the bore of the upper housing by set screw 21 and groove 29.The groove is formed slightly wider than the diameter of the screw toallow a slight variability in the positioning of the retainer plug inbore 13. As will be made apparent, this allows changes to be made in thesize range of bullets that can be pulled with the present invention.

Retainer plug 19 is formed to tit in bore 13 and has a passage 26therethrough, which surrounds the spring 18, and an inwardly protrudingshoulder 19a at the upper end of the passage to form an abutment for thespring. An arcuately shaped diametric channel 26, wide enough to allowthe jaws to be positioned and pivot therein is formed in the bottom ofthe retainer plug. The lower edges 27 of the curved surface 2S, at thecircumference of the retainer plug provide pivot surfaces for the jawsto rotate 3. around, and the radius of the arcuate channel willdetermine the maximum angle to which the jaws can pivot.

Although the above described arcuate diametric channel constitutes aneasily formed, convenient, guide means for the jaws, others couldy beprovided. However', the means utilized most advantageously will preventthe jaws from independently moving on the shoulder, provide a space inwhich the jaws can pivot, and prevent undesired upward movement of therear portion of the jaws.

The through passage deiined by bores 13 and 14, and by the passage 26through retainer plug 19, should be at least as large as the greatestopening between the jaws when in their maximum upward pivoted position,to allow bullets to pass and be discharged therethrough, as will befurther explained.

In use, bullets are successively fed to the bore M of the bullet puller.As each bullet enters bore 14, it is guided by the beveled shoulder 15and beveled jaws 17 so that its nose enters the hole formed by the jaws.As increased pressure is applied to the rear of the bullet to force itinto the upper housing, the biasing force of the spring is overcome andthe front ot the jaws are raised and pivoted, the rear edges beingprevented by the retainer plug from moving upwardly more than a shortdistance. As the jaws rotate, the opening between them is increased andthe bullet slides through. When the bullet has been forced to thedesired operational position, a lever-operated gripping means (notshown) attachedto the loading press is attached to the closed bottom ofthe shell of the cartridge and a downward torce applied.

The bullet is restrained from moving downwardly by spring 18 forcingjaws t7 into engagement with the bullet and the wall of the bore. Inopposition to the slightest downward movement of the bullet, the rear ofthe jaws are jammed into engagement with the wall of bore 13, and thefront edges gently engage and firmly hold the bullet. Increased downwardforce on the lever will result in an increased grip on the bullet andseparation of the cartridge therefrom.

Succeeding bullets are used to push those already separated from theirshells through the passage 26 through the retainer plug and out of thebullet puller, thus enabling a continuous feed of bullets to be handled.

Within limits determined by the minimum opening between the jaws when intheir flat resting position and the maximum opening between the jawswhen in their pivoted position, bullets of all calibers can be pulledwithout changing any of the parts of the assembly. Additionally, merelyby repositioning set screw 21 in groove 20,' the retainer plug can beslightly raised or lowered in bore 13 to change the angle to which thejaws can pivot, thus changing the size ot the opening between them andincreasing the size range of bullets that can be pulled.

In the modiiication of the invention shown in FIGS. '6 and 7 thegeneral'coniiguration of the body 1t-l' is the same as in the previouslydescribed embodiment. In this embodiment, however, retainer plug 32 isheld in position by a split ring 3%' which snaps into position in agroove 31 formed in the upper wall of bore t3 and protrudes into thebore above the spring and jaw retainer plug 32 to hold it in position.

Although the number of jaws that may be used can vary from two upwardly,two, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 5, have been found to provide verysatisfactory results. The use of three or moreare exemplified by theembodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, in which four are shown.

The four jaws 33 are tlat and symmetrical. Each is provided with abullet-engaging front edge 3d and a rear edge 35 with a rear pivotextremity shaped to allow the jaws to pivot against and within the wallof bore 13.

The retainer plug 32 is shaped to tit within bore i3 and has a passage36 therethrough, with a spring stop 37 at the upper end. Spring S ispositioned between the spring stop 37 and one fiat face othe jaws, andacts to bias ill-- J'WS t0 il POSi 21 wherein their other ilat face isresting on shoulder 15. In this position the edges of the jaws contactone another and the jav/s are incapable of independent lateral movement.The front edges 34 define an opening through which the tip of a bulletcan be inserted.

The retainer plug 32 extends into bore i3 to a point spaced from thejaws, to thereby allow the room for the jaws to be rotated upwardlyabout their rear edges. Additionally, the lower end of the bore 34 isbeveled as at 37, the angle of the bevel determining'the maximum angleto which the jaws can pivot, the size opening obtained through the jaws,and accordingly the maximum size bullets that can be pulled.

As with the previously described modification, bullets are insertedthrough the bore of shank lift, to force the jaws to pivot to an openposition. When the bullet has been passed into the desired position, thecartridge puller is affixed, as previously described, to apply adownward force to the shell. The jaws, under the influence of thespring, engage the bullet and resist downward movement thereof as thecartridge stell is pulled therefrom. Also, as in the previouslydescribed embodiment, succeeding bullets will force the preceding onesout of the device.

The bullet puller will rmly grasp and hold a wide range of calibers ofbullets and will easily and quickly handle a continuous feed of bullets.Additionally, it is completely automatic, in that no manualoperationother than the positioning of the bullet-is required for thegripping of each succeeding bullet, regardless of variations in caliber.

Besides having these highly desired functional characteristics, thepresent bullet puller is economical Ato construct, since it is made ofbut a few easily formed parts and is easily assembled. Merely by theremoval of a single locking means all partsY are made accessible, and ifrequired, they can be replaced.

The jaws, which are the parts most subject to wear, are easily `andinexpensively formed and can be quickly and economically replaced shouldthis be required.

Whereas this invention is herein illustrated and described withreference to certain presently preferred structural forms, it should beunderstood that other forms may be pro-duced in accordance with theteachings hereof, by those skilled in the art, without departing fromlthe generic concepts of' the yfollowing claims.

I claim:

l. A bullet puller, comprising: a unitary body having a cylindrical,exteriorly threaded base and a cylindrical upper housing, the Ibore ofsaid housing being larger than the bore of the base, and an annularshoulder between the bores; a plurality of ilat, bullet-engaging jaws,said jaws each having a rear edge contacting the wall of the bore orfsaid housing, one ilat side normally resting on the shoulder, and afront edge overlying the bore of said base, the front edges surroundinga hole formed therebetween when the jaws are resting on said shoulderand into which the tip of a bullet can be inserted; a coil springsurrounding and overlying the hole formed by said front edges andbiasing said jaws yto their normal positions resting on the shoulder',and retainer means for holding said spring in position -in said bore andfor limiting upward movement of the rear edges of the jaws.

2. The bullet puller of claim l, `wherein the retainer means includes aplug `adapted to t slidably in the housing bore, said plug having lapassage therethrough, a shoulder formed in the upper end of the passage,the bottom of said plug having a guide for pivoting of the jaws formedtherein, said passage surrounding the spring with said spring abuttingsaid shoulder; and means to loclt said plug in said bore.

3. The bullet puller of claim 2, wherein said means to lock said plug insaid bore comprises a set screw, threaded through the housing wall andcooperating with a groove in said retainer plug, said groove beingslightly wider than the diameter of said screw.

4. The bullet puller of claim 2, wherein said means to lock said plug insaid bore comprises a split ring n a groove formed on the inside of thebore of the housing, the split ring extending into the bore, said groovebeing above the retainer plug when 1in its spring and jaw retainingposition.

5. A lbullet puller comprising: a unitary body having a cylindrical,exteriorly threaded base and a cylindrical upper housing, the bore ofsaid upper housing being larger than the bore of lthe base, and a atshoulder between the hores; a pair of symmetrical flat jaws, each havingparallel side edges, `a rear edge with a rear extremity forming a pivotpoint and an arcuate and beveled bulletengaging `front edge; a :springbiasing said jaws to a position wherein one flat face of said jaws isresting on the shoulder, the rear extremities are contacting the wallor" the bore of the housing, the corners of the arcuate front edge ofone jaw are contacting the corners of the yarcuate front edge of theother jaw, and the arcuate front edges define a hole through which thetip of a bullet can be inserted; a retainer plug having -a passagetherethrough land a shoulder at the top of said passage, said springbeing positioned in said passage and yabutting the shoulder; a channelformed alrcuately into the bottom of said plug, said channel beingslightly wider than said jaws and said jaws being positioned in saidchannel, the side walls of said channel extending adjacent the parallelside eid-ges of the jaws, and the ends of the arcuate surface of saidchannel yforming means to limit upward movement of the rear edges of thejaws and `additionally forming pivot points for the jaws to pivotaround; and means removably holding said retainer plug in the bore ofthe housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A BULLET PULLER, COMPRISING: A UNITARY BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL,EXTERIORLY THREADED BASE AND A CYLINDRICAL UPPER HOUSING, THE BORE OFSAID HOUSING BEING LARGER THAN THE BORE OF THE BASE, AND AN ANNULARSHOULDER BETWEEN THE BORES; A PLURALITY OF FLAT, BULLET-ENGAGING JAWS,SAID JAWS EACH HAVING A REAR EDGE CONTACTING THE WALL OF THE BORE OFSAID HOUSING, ONE FLAT SIDE NORMALLY RESTING ON THE SHOULDER, AND AFRONT EDGE OVERLYING THE BORE OF SAID BASE, THE FRONT EDGES SURROUNDINGA HOLE FORMED THEREBETWEEN WHEN THE JAWS ARE RESTING ON SAID SHOULDERAND INTO WHICH THE TIP OF A BULLET CAN BE INSERTED; A COIL SPRINGSURROUNDING AND OVERLYING THE HOLE FORMED BY SAID FRONT EDGES ANDBIASING SAID JAWS TO THEIR NORMAL POSITIONS RESTING ON THE SHOULDER; ANDRETAINER MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SPRING IN POSITION IN SAID BORE AND FORLIMITING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE REAR EDGES OF THE JAWS.